Ancestral Findings (Genealogy Gold Podcast)

Every year on October 31, children walk door to door collecting candy while wearing costumes. The custom feels old and familiar, but it has a real history. Trick or treat did not appear overnight. It grew slowly, shaped by the lives and traditions of many families who came to America from other countries. For genealogists, this story adds useful background to family history. It helps date family photos, record memories, and understand how communities changed over time. This article follows trick or treat from its earliest roots to the way families still enjoy it today... Podcast notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/when-did-trick-or-treat-start-in-america/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Names are among the most personal pieces of information we can record, yet in genealogy they often become our most puzzling clues. They carry history, culture, and family identity. They also shift, disappear, and change shape across generations, sometimes leaving researchers wondering whether they're tracing one person—or several with similar names. In every century and culture, names have done more than identify. They have marked belonging, revealed heritage, reflected belief, and sometimes offered protection. Understanding how and why names change is one of the most valuable skills a genealogist can learn. Podcast notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-power-in-a-name/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

There's something about the World's Fairs that has always captured my imagination. Whenever I read about them or stumble across old photos or souvenir postcards, I feel like I'm looking into a time when humanity wasn't just dreaming about the future—we were building it in real time. As someone who spends a lot of time researching history and genealogy, I find myself wondering what my ancestors must have thought when they walked through those incredible pavilions or gazed up at structures the world had never seen before. The World's Fairs weren't just exhibitions—they were moments where the world agreed to press pause and marvel together. They combined science, culture, and art with an optimism that feels rare today. Many of the things we rely on or enjoy daily had their public debut at a World's Fair. And while we still have high-tech expos and industry conventions, nothing quite compares to the scale, the spirit, and the wonder of a true World's Fair... Podcast notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/worlds-fairs-history-legacy/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Some of the most powerful moments in genealogy happen when we uncover something someone tried to hide. It might be a missing record, a false birth date, or a name that suddenly disappears and reappears under a new spelling. Secrets are part of every family story, and when they surface, they can change how we see everything that came before. I've spent many years researching family lines, and I've learned that every family, no matter how ordinary, carries something it once chose not to share. Some secrets are harmless. Others reach so deep that they still shape the generations that followed. In genealogy, truth and silence often meet in the same place—and that's where some of the most meaningful work begins... Podcast notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/genealogy-unfiltered-the-price-of-secrets/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Genealogy provides us with more than just names and dates. It reveals how people lived, what they valued, and how they formed the ties that made them family. Those ties are not always simple. As research deepens, we begin to see that the concept of family has never had a single, unified meaning. It shifts with time, culture, and circumstance. This article looks at what happens when “family” does not follow the expected line of descent. It explores how people have shaped, recorded, and redefined their families throughout history and what that means for genealogical research today... Podcast notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/genealogy-unfiltered-when-family-isnt-family/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Columbus Day began as a celebration of exploration and immigrant pride. Over time, it became one of the most debated observances in the United States. This is the story of how a single holiday came to represent two distinctly different perspectives on American history. The idea of honoring Christopher Columbus in the United States dates back to the late 1700s. The earliest known celebration took place in New York City in 1792. The Columbian Order, also called Tammany Hall, organized a ceremony to mark the 300th anniversary of Columbus's first voyage. The young republic saw in Columbus a symbol of courage, exploration, and the spread of Western civilization. During the early 1800s, public references to Columbus appeared in schoolbooks, political speeches, and patriotic art. Cities named after him multiplied, including Columbus, Ohio, which was founded in 1812. The explorer's image fit well with America's self-image as a bold new world. By the mid-nineteenth century, the celebration of Columbus took on new meaning for Italian immigrants. Many arrived in the United States during a period of widespread prejudice and social exclusion. They looked to Columbus, an Italian navigator sailing under the Spanish crown, as a national hero who had changed the course of world history. Honoring him became a way to assert cultural pride and to show that Italians belonged in American society... Podcast notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/how-columbus-day-became-two-different-holidays-in-america/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Every so often, a genealogy book comes along that makes me look at research in a completely new way. Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland by Chris Paton did that for me. If you have ever chased Irish ancestors, you already know it is not for the faint of heart. Records vanish. Churches burn. Counties split and rename. Sometimes the trail just goes cold. What this book does so well is explain why those records went missing and how the crises of Ireland's past shaped what was written down, what was lost, and what can still be found today... Podcast notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/researching-ancestral-crisis-in-ireland-by-chris-paton-free-giveaway/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Every postcard has its surprises, and this one from my collection is a little unusual. Instead of showing a scenic view or a tourist attraction, it shows a mural of a man who was both feared and admired: Jesse James, the famous Missouri outlaw. The mural is located inside the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, and the fact that it ended up on a postcard tells you a lot about how Americans have remembered Jesse James—not just as a criminal, but as a larger-than-life figure of folklore. The postcard was published by Blair Cedar & Novelty Works of Camdenton, Missouri, with printing by Colorpicture of Boston, Massachusetts. Like many linen-era cards, it's vivid and bold, with stylized colors that almost make the mural look alive. On the front, the mural shows Jesse James and his gang in the middle of a train robbery—a scene that has become part of American legend. Farmers and workers stand in the background, symbolizing the state's broader history, while the train steams through the center as the action unfolds. It's a striking image: outlaw life turned into high art, displayed in the very heart of Missouri government... Podcast notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/postcards-from-the-past-jesse-james-missouri-capitol/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Every postcard in my collection has a story to tell, and this one takes us to Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri. On the front, you see a lively crowd gathered at the Municipal Opera, better known today as The Muny. The seats are packed, the stage is bright, and the performance is in full swing. Just looking at the card, you can almost hear the music floating through the summer night air. On the back, the caption reads: “The fame of St. Louis's Municipal Opera has spread throughout the world, and visitors come thousands of miles to witness this glamorous spectacle. Night after night throughout the summer, distinguished stars present popular musical attractions in a beautiful al fresco theatre in the heart of Forest Park.” Printed with space for a one-cent stamp, this postcard captures an era when people took great pride in local landmarks and mailed them across the country as souvenirs. The card itself was published by E.C. Kropp of Milwaukee and distributed by the Session Merchandise Company in St. Louis. It's a classic linen card, likely dating from the 1930s or 1940s, when bold colors and textured printing were the style of choice. For me, as a collector, this card stands out because it's more than just a building—it's an experience. It shows people gathered together outdoors, enjoying music, theater, and community. That's exactly what The Muny was built for, and that's why it has lasted more than a century... Podcast notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/postcards-from-the-past-municipal-opera-st-louis/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Every postcard has a story to tell, and this one from my collection takes us into the world of Utah mining. The front of the card is filled with colorful illustrations of mines, towns, and the people who worked them. At the center is a portrait of an older prospector, George P. Watson, who spent nearly five decades searching for ore in Utah. Around him are views of famous mines: the Alta United Mine, Park City Consolidated Mine, Horn Silver Mine at Milford, the Utah Copper Mine at Bingham, and the Chief Consolidated Mine at Eureka. Together, these images form a kind of collage, showing how important mining was to Utah's identity in the early 20th century... Podcast notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/postcards-from-the-past-utah-mining/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

As October approaches, many of us eagerly anticipate engaging in seasonal activities, from pumpkin carving to family baking. But have you ever considered that this could be the perfect time to dig deeper into your family history as well? This month offers you a golden opportunity to enrich your understanding of your roots through various genealogy projects. Whether you're keen on outdoor exploration, cozying up in a library, or getting creative with family recipes and photos, we've got six must-do genealogy projects that are enriching and seasonally appropriate. So, let's start making this October a month of memorable family discoveries! Podcast notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/6-must-do-genealogy-projects-for-october/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips      

If you've been researching family history for any length of time, you've probably heard someone say, “Well, the trail stops with the immigrant ancestor. Once you hit the ocean, you can't go any further.” This idea is one of the most persistent myths in genealogy. Many people stop at the ancestor who stepped off the ship, resigned to the belief that records from “the old country” are too hard to find, inaccessible, or simply don't exist. At first glance, the myth makes sense. Immigration records can be patchy. Language barriers are intimidating. Foreign archives may seem distant and mysterious. For years, genealogists accepted the idea that you could trace your family back to the arrival in America, Canada, or Australia, and no further. But here's the truth: genealogy doesn't end at the ocean. The ocean is not a wall — it's a bridge. With patience, persistence, and the right tools, you can cross it. Today, countless records from Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America are available in digital form. Archives are more accessible than ever. And local experts around the world are helping researchers trace their families across borders... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/genealogy-ends-at-the-ocean/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

In recent years, DNA testing has become one of the hottest tools in genealogy. It promises quick answers to old questions, colorful charts that tell you your ethnic breakdown, and even lists of genetic cousins you never knew you had. For many researchers, DNA has been a game-changer. It has reunited families, broken through long-standing mysteries, and added a powerful new dimension to traditional research. But with all that excitement comes a myth: the belief that DNA testing will solve every brick wall. Many people assume that if you just spit in a tube, all of your genealogical puzzles will untangle themselves. That simply isn't true. DNA is powerful, but it is not magic. It has limits, and those limits matter. In this essay, we'll look at why this myth exists, where DNA really shines, where it struggles, and how you can use it wisely as one tool in a larger toolkit... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/dna-testing-genealogy-brick-wall/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Many of us grow up hearing stories about our family's background. Maybe your grandmother insisted her side of the family was “pure Irish.” Or perhaps your grandfather proudly declared that his ancestors were “completely German, no mixture at all.” In some households, there is even the belief that one particular ancestor was “full-blooded Cherokee,” “100 percent Scottish,” or “pure Italian.” These stories are often told with pride. They give families a sense of identity and belonging. But when we hold them up to the light of history and genealogy, a different picture emerges. The idea that an ancestor was “100 percent” one ethnicity is rarely true, and it is almost never as simple as the stories make it sound. The myth of pure ethnicity is powerful because it speaks to human longing. People like neat boxes and clear categories. We want to know where we come from. We want to say, with confidence, “My ancestors were entirely Irish,” or “We have nothing but German blood.” The problem is, history is messy, borders change, and people have always moved, married, and mixed. This time, we are going to explore why the myth of pure ethnicity exists, where it came from, how DNA testing complicates it, and what the records really show. By the end, you'll see that your ancestors, like everyone else's, were part of a long story of blending, migration, and mixing. And that makes your family history far more interesting than the myth of “100 percent” purity. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/pure-ethnicity-ancestor-myth/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

One of the most tempting shortcuts in genealogy is the idea of the “master family tree.” A single, giant, authoritative tree where everyone is already linked, all the names and dates are correct, and all you have to do is plug your family into the right spot. You'll hear this myth from new researchers, see it implied in online ads, and sometimes even find it in casual conversations: “Isn't there one big tree somewhere that already has all of this figured out?” It's a nice idea. Imagine logging in, clicking a few buttons, and instantly tracing your family back ten generations. But here's the truth: a flawless, universal master tree does not exist, and probably never will. That doesn't mean there aren't shared trees online. It just means they are often riddled with errors, duplications, and contradictions. Today, we'll dig into where the myth came from, how shared trees can be both helpful and dangerous, and what you should do instead to build a reliable family history. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/master-family-tree-genealogy-myth/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

The internet has changed genealogy forever. A few clicks can uncover census records, passenger lists, or even digitized newspapers that once took months of travel and library time to access. Companies like Ancestry, FamilySearch, and MyHeritage have built enormous databases. Google can even surface obscure family references. With so much at our fingertips, it's easy to believe the myth: “All of genealogy is online now.” But here's the truth: while the internet is an incredible tool, the majority of genealogical records are still not online. Many live in courthouse basements, small-town libraries, church archives, or dusty boxes in county offices. Some will never be digitized. If you rely only on online databases, you'll miss out on huge parts of your family story. Let's explore why this myth is so common, what's really available online, and how to push your research further by going offline... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/genealogy-records-online-myth/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

For genealogists, the census is like a treasure chest. Those big sheets of names, ages, occupations, and birthplaces are often the first stop when we start tracing a family tree. They feel official, stamped with the authority of the government, and that makes them seem ironclad. But here's the myth we need to bust: the census is not always correct. Yes, census records are invaluable. They offer details you won't find anywhere else. But they are also full of quirks, errors, contradictions, and missing information. If you take every line at face value, you could easily chase the wrong ancestor or miss the right one altogether. The good news? Once you understand why the census is imperfect—and how to work with those imperfections—you'll unlock its real power as a genealogical tool. Let's dive deep into this myth, explore why mistakes happened, and discover how to read between the lines. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/census-record-accuracy-myth/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Have you ever heard a family story that sounds just a little too good to be true? Maybe it's the tale of a “Cherokee princess” somewhere in your tree. Or maybe a great-aunt swore that your family is connected to European royalty. These are two of the most popular legends in genealogy, and they've been told so many times that they start to feel like fact. Here's the truth: Native tribes didn't have “princesses,” and most family lines don't secretly lead back to kings and queens. Still, these stories stick around because they're exciting, a little glamorous, and they give us a sense of pride. That doesn't mean your family history isn't fascinating—it just means the real story might be very different than the legend. And honestly, that's where the fun begins. In this article, we'll look at where these myths came from, why they've lasted so long, and how you can check the facts for yourself... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/cherokee-princess-royal-ancestor-myth/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Family stories have a way of becoming family legends, and one of the most common you'll hear in genealogical circles is this: “Our ancestor came through Ellis Island, and the clerks changed the family name because they couldn't spell it.” It's dramatic, almost cinematic. Imagine the scene—ships crowding New York Harbor, weary travelers clutching suitcases, and an impatient official scribbling down a “new” surname that forever altered the family's story. But here's the reality: Ellis Island clerks did not change names. The truth is both less theatrical and more interesting, because it says something important about how myths form, how families adapt, and where the real records are hiding... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/ellis-island-name-change-myth/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

This postcard shows Nela Park in Cleveland, Ohio, home to the General Electric Company's experimental headquarters. More than just an industrial site, Nela Park became one of the most famous research campuses in the United States. It represented innovation, wartime contributions, and the lives of thousands of Cleveland-area families. Mailed in 1944, the card also carries a personal note that connects the grand story of science and industry to the smaller, everyday rhythms of life... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/nela-park-cleveland-postcard/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

This vintage postcard captures a sweeping view of Bridgeport, Ohio, and Wheeling Island in Wheeling, West Virginia. The Ohio River bends through the middle of the scene, crossed by several bridges that carried workers, families, and goods from one side of the river to the other. Postcards like this were small treasures of the early 20th century. They preserved local landmarks, and today they serve as important historical records for genealogists and historians alike... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/wheeling-west-virginia-postcard/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Cincinnati has always been a city that valued its public spaces, and one of its most fascinating historic gathering places was Chester Park. While the postcard image gives us only a glimpse of a statue in a pavilion with the clubhouse in the background, the story of Chester Park goes much deeper. For decades, it was one of Cincinnati's favorite spots for leisure, recreation, and community life. To understand its history is to open a window into how people in the late 19th and early 20th centuries lived, worked, and played. Chester Park was established in the 1870s, during a period of explosive growth in Cincinnati. The city had become a hub of industry, trade, and immigration. As families flocked to Cincinnati for work, city leaders and entrepreneurs realized the importance of creating spaces where people could escape from crowded neighborhoods and the smoke of the factories. Parks were not only beautiful, but they also reflected civic pride and offered healthier surroundings for the public. Chester Park was designed with this in mind. It wasn't just a simple green lawn—it was a planned space filled with gardens, statues, fountains, and tree-lined walkways. It was meant to be a place where families could stroll together, young couples could walk arm in arm, and civic organizations could hold meetings or events in elegant surroundings. The grand clubhouse, seen in this postcard, became a centerpiece for gatherings, dances, and social events... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/chester-park-cincinnati-history/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Every city has a spot that feels like its true center, the place where people gather and memories are made. For Cincinnati, that place has always been Fountain Square. It's where families have met up for generations, where kids toss coins into the water, and where people pause for a moment to take in the rhythm of the city. This old postcard brings that feeling back, showing the Tyler Davidson Fountain—better known as the Genius of Water—standing tall in the middle of downtown... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/fountain-square-cincinnati-postcard/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Chimney Rock is one of those places that's impossible to forget once you've seen it. Rising more than 200 feet into the air, that massive granite column looks like it's reaching up to hold the sky. With an American flag at the top, it feels like a landmark that was always meant to be there—solid, steadfast, and full of meaning. Nature shaped it, but for us, it's been a source of inspiration, a family destination, and even a Hollywood filming location. The postcard I've got here captures Chimney Rock sometime around the middle of the last century. On the front, you see it rising proudly above the trees, flag waving in the mountain breeze. What makes the colors pop is that old linen-style printing that was popular in those days. Instead of a flat photograph, you get something almost painterly, with glowing colors that make the scene come alive. Flip it over, and the back is just as interesting—it calls the formation the “Mighty Chimney” and promises breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Hickory Nut Gorge, Lake Lure, and the Piedmont Plain. Even if you'd never set foot in North Carolina, just reading that little blurb would have stirred your imagination... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/chimney-rock-history-postcard/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

If you've followed this series from the beginning, you already know this wasn't really about war. It was about what came after. The quiet years. The long drives to work. The nights spent filling out pension forms by lamplight. The new marriages, new names, new babies, and sometimes, the distance — emotional or physical — that never fully closed. I've spent years digging through military records, just like you. But I've come to realize that a veteran's service file is only half the story. It might tell you where someone was stationed or what battles they were in, but it doesn't tell you who they became when they came home. And that's the part their descendants — you and me — need to know to truly understand our family. We call them veterans, but they were also sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, neighbors, laborers, wanderers, storytellers, and in some cases… ghosts. Not in the supernatural sense, but in that soft way a person fades out of memory when no one speaks their name anymore. This series was for them... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/veteran-second-lives-genealogy-conclusion/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

“Many thanks, Will. You have rekindled my 40-year quest to find my family origins. Your weekly letters are greatly appreciated.” – Bryan When Bryan wrote those words to me, they carried more than gratitude. They spoke of a lifetime spent searching, hoping, sometimes pausing, and then returning again. A forty-year quest is no small thing. It's the better part of a life, and it reminds me of why we keep at this work. Family history isn't only about names and dates; it's about our connection to those who lived before us, and it's about the journey we ourselves take while searching for them. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/rekindling-forty-year-family-history-quest/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Some postcards capture landscapes or landmarks; others capture a moment of pride. This one from Morgantown, West Virginia, does both. On the front, a yellow Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) car glides along its elevated guideway, the Appalachian hills forming a textured backdrop. On the back, a handwritten date—October 3, 1994—sits alongside the publisher's mark from Paige Creations and a credit to photographer Janet Paige Bonsall. For me, those small touches are what make postcards feel like secret storytellers. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/morgantown-prt-postcard/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

The air is crisp, the leaves are beginning to turn, and children have returned to their classrooms. It's September, and what better time to reconnect with your family history? Genealogy isn't just a summer vacation activity; each season offers its own unique opportunities to explore your past and build your family tree. As you swap out your summer decor for autumnal wreaths and pumpkins, consider diving into these ten genealogy projects tailored for September. Each one offers the chance to learn something new about your ancestors and make meaningful progress in your research... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/10-must-do-genealogy-projects-for-september/  Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

You find them in a draft card, a pension file, or a service roster—and then nothing. No census record. No marriage. No obituary. No trace. Every family historian has run into a veteran ancestor who seems to disappear after the war. These are the quiet mysteries of the family tree. They served their country, came home (if at all), and then vanished. And while they may not have left behind a full paper trail, the clues are often still there… just scattered in places we don't always think to look. This is about those veterans—the ones lost to history—and how to find out what may have happened to them after the uniforms were packed away. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/veterans-who-disappeared-after-war/  Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Labor Day arrives each September, signaling the close of summer and the approach of autumn. Many people see it as a three-day weekend for rest, cookouts, or back-to-school shopping. Yet beneath the sales and celebrations lies a deeper meaning—one that connects directly to the lives of our ancestors. It is a holiday born of struggle, built on sacrifice, and sustained by the ongoing dignity of work. Last year, I looked back at the history of how Labor Day began and why it was created. This year, I want to look at it in a more personal way—through the eyes of our ancestors, through the forgotten jobs they once held, through the local parades and traditions they passed down, through the transformation of the holiday itself, through family stories of work, and through the immigrant experience that shaped the American workforce. Taken together, these perspectives show us why Labor Day is more than just a long weekend. It is a remembrance of the labor that shaped our families, our communities, and our nation... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/labor-day-work-family-immigration/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Some families have stories that begin with war but continue through decades of work that followed. A man who served in a supply battalion later owned a hardware store. A woman who drove an ambulance in Europe spent her post-war years as a nurse. A quiet grandfather who never spoke about the war was known around town as the best electrician anyone had ever seen. These are more than coincidences. They're professional paths shaped directly by military service — by what veterans learned, endured, and adapted. This part of the Second Lives series explores how veterans took what they knew in uniform and made it into a trade, a business, or a second life they never expected... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/veteran-careers-after-military-service/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

War has a way of pausing life. Plans are put on hold. Relationships are delayed. Young people grow older quickly. And when the fighting ends, the urge to settle down often comes fast — sometimes with someone they wrote to during the war, met while deployed, or reunited with after years apart. That's why so many families — maybe even yours — began with a marriage that happened after the war. For family historians, these post-war marriages can unlock stories that explain late-in-life first children, sudden name changes, cross-country moves, or entire branches of the family tree that appear unexpectedly. These unions were often the beginning of second lives — built in peacetime, but forged in the shadow of war... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/marriage-after-military-service/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

The guns fell silent on November 11, 1918. But for millions of American “Doughboys” — the nickname given to U.S. infantrymen in World War I — the story didn't end there. They returned home changed, stepping into a country that barely resembled the one they'd left. As the 1920s roared into life, veterans tried to rejoin a world moving faster than ever before. Some blended in. Others struggled. A few stood out. And their second lives often left behind records that are waiting for you to discover... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/wwi-veterans-after-the-war-1920s/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

For generations, families quietly wondered why a veteran ancestor drank too much, kept to themselves, startled at loud noises, or refused to talk about the war. Some were labeled “nervous,” “moody,” or “difficult.” Others disappeared from family life altogether — emotionally, or sometimes physically. But we now understand what they couldn't name: post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Though the term didn't exist until decades later, the effects were already showing. And for family historians, this hidden aftermath of war can explain behaviors, disappearances, and long-standing family rifts... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/ptsd-in-war-veterans-family-history/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

When the Second World War ended in 1945, it didn't just bring a global conflict to a close — it launched millions of lives into motion. Soldiers, sailors, nurses, airmen, and civilians who had served in some capacity returned to a nation that was about to shift in almost every possible way. For many of our family members, the post-WWII years weren't about returning to normal — they were about starting something entirely new. They rewrote their lives from scratch. And the paper trail they left behind is worth following... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/wwii-veterans-after-the-war/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

When we think about Revolutionary War ancestors, we usually picture them in uniform—standing guard at a winter camp, marching along a dusty road, or writing letters home with inky quills and weary hands. We honor their service. We may even know where they fought and under which command. But what happened after they stacked their muskets and went home? That's a story worth telling. Because that's where the rest of their life began... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/life-after-the-revolutionary-war/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

When the Civil War ended in 1865, the United States was scarred but standing. The fields were silent, the guns were still, and the soldiers — Union and Confederate alike — began the long journey home. But what if “home” no longer existed? For thousands of veterans, returning wasn't an option. They had to start over somewhere else. Many of them packed up and headed west. That decision shaped the lives of entire generations. Why Go West? Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/civil-war-veterans-who-moved-west/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

When the gunpowder settled and the flags were folded, Revolutionary War soldiers had to return to lives that often looked nothing like the ones they'd left behind. For many veterans, survival during the war had been only half the battle. The other half was trying to get what was promised to them once peace had been declared. That's where the pension system came in — slowly, imperfectly, and full of red tape. But for family historians like us, those old paper trails can be a gift. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/revolutionary-war-pension-records/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Every family has secrets. But some secrets are darker than others—and some leave behind headlines, scars, and a trail of records in their wake. Murder cases, unsolved crimes, public hangings, or even whispered suspicions didn't just mark the individual involved. They reshaped entire branches of the family tree. If you've ever come across an ancestor who vanished, changed their name, or whose family stopped mentioning them entirely, there's a chance something more serious was involved. And even if the person wasn't guilty, their name may have been dragged into scandal or tragedy, leaving behind a legacy that was deliberately erased—or quietly hidden in the pages of forgotten records. This final installment in the series explores how to trace ancestors connected to serious crimes, what kinds of records exist, and how to approach these discoveries with care, curiosity, and truth. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/murder-infamy-family-history Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips  

Not every crime makes headlines. In fact, many of the offenses found in old court records are small—petty theft, vagrancy, disturbing the peace, trespassing, or breaking local ordinances. These weren't the stuff of true crime novels, but they still mattered. They could lead to fines, jail time, social ruin, or even exile from a town or community. And sometimes, these seemingly minor offenses had ripple effects that changed the course of a family's story. If your ancestor disappeared from records, left town abruptly, or was labeled a “black sheep,” there's a good chance a petty crime was involved. These aren't always easy to find, but when you do, they offer an intimate glimpse into the lives of ordinary people navigating real pressures, often under hard conditions. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/petty-crimes-family-history/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

In most family trees, the women are harder to trace. They often changed names, had fewer legal rights, and were less likely to appear in records that followed property or voting. But court records—especially when women found themselves in trouble—can be some of the most detailed and revealing documents we have. Whether they were plaintiffs or defendants, women in court often left behind rare windows into their daily lives, hardships, and resilience. Some were victims of false accusations. Others were bold rulebreakers. And a few were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. If your family history research hasn't included looking for women in legal records, it's time to change that. The stories found there are sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes scandalous—but always human. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/women-trial-court-genealogy/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

During the 1920s and early 1930s, a jug of illegal whiskey could change a family's fortune—or tear it apart. Whether your ancestors ran stills deep in the woods or simply served homemade brew at a quiet kitchen table, Prohibition touched nearly every community in America. The records left behind by this period—if you know where to look—reveal a time of defiance, desperation, and secret enterprise. And if you've got Southern, Appalachian, Midwestern, or even urban roots, there's a good chance someone in your family tree ran afoul of the law during this dry era. Let's take a closer look at the legacy of Prohibition, how moonshining worked, why so many people got involved, and how to uncover those stories in your own family history. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/prohibition-moonshine-genealogy/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

When most people think about court records in genealogy, they imagine criminal charges, jail time, or dramatic trials. But there's a quieter, more common type of legal record that can be just as revealing: civil cases. These aren't about crimes—they're about everyday disputes, debts, business problems, and personal grievances. And they can open a window into your ancestors' lives in a way no census or marriage certificate ever could. From unpaid bills to broken promises, civil cases leave behind a paper trail of who our ancestors trusted, owed, sued, or were sued by. If you've never explored civil court records in your research, you're missing out on one of the richest sources of human detail in family history... Podcast Note: https://ancestralfindings.com/civil-court-records-genealogy/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Not every ancestor was a pillar of virtue. Some were drunks, swindlers, thieves—or worse. You may have been told stories about them, or maybe you found hints in old letters or whispered rumors passed down through generations. But whether the stories were hushed or never told at all, the paper trail doesn't lie. Court records, prison files, and arrest logs are filled with stories—some tragic, some surprising, and some just plain strange. If you've never looked into the criminal side of your family history, you may be missing a whole dimension of your ancestors' lives. And in many cases, it's the most revealing side of all. Let's talk about how to find those records, how to make sense of them, and why they're worth exploring—even when the truth is uncomfortable... Podcast Note: https://ancestralfindings.com/criminal-records-genealogy/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

I remember watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on VHS with my parents when I was very young. That memory is still fresh. The soft hum of the tape rewinding, the old Disney clamshell case with the artwork, and the joy of seeing the dwarfs move across the screen—it all left a mark. This postcard brings that moment rushing back, showing one of the most cheerful and well-loved scenes in the movie: Snow White dancing while the dwarfs play music around her. Even today, it's easy to recognize the details. You can see the wooden cottage, the carved furniture, and the happy expressions on the characters. Dopey is front and center, his oversized sleeves dangling while he claps. Grumpy is off to the side, reluctant as always, but still involved. Each dwarf has their place, and you can almost hear the music just by looking at the image. That was the magic of the original movie—every scene was filled with color, personality, and life... Podcast Note: https://ancestralfindings.com/snow-white-dance-postcard/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

As we continue The Forgotten Seconds series — exploring the lives of U.S. vice presidents who never became president — we arrive at a man whose political career spanned decades and whose life ended just as he reached one of the highest peaks of national office. Thomas Andrews Hendricks, vice president under Grover Cleveland, served only a few short months before his sudden death in 1885. Yet his legacy endures, especially in the state of Indiana, where he left a lasting mark on politics and public memory... Podcast Note: https://ancestralfindings.com/thomas-a-hendricks-vice-president Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

As we continue our "The Forgotten Seconds" series, tracing the lives of vice presidents who never became president, few offer a more profound story of transformation than Henry Wilson. Born into poverty under a different name, Wilson rose from a boy bound out to farm labor to a man who held one of the highest offices in the land. Along the way, he became one of the most principled voices for abolition and civil rights in American history. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/william-a-wheeler-vice-president Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

As we continue our "The Forgotten Seconds" series, tracing the lives of vice presidents who never became president, few offer a more profound story of transformation than Henry Wilson. Born into poverty under a different name, Wilson rose from a boy bound out to farm labor to a man who held one of the highest offices in the land. Along the way, he became one of the most principled voices for abolition and civil rights in American history. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/henry-wilson-vice-president/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

This postcard captures more than just a location. It holds a slice of New York City's vibrant nightlife in the early 1900s, frozen in time. Dozens of sharply dressed men and women fill every inch of the dining hall at Churchill's, a legendary supper club at the corner of Broadway and 49th Street. Their expressions vary—some smiling, some thoughtful, some lost in the moment. There's elegance, mystery, and a hum of excitement you can almost hear. When you look closely, you begin to wonder: Who were these people? What brought them there that night? Did any of them appear in your family tree? This is the kind of image that invites us not only to observe history, but to feel it—and maybe even find ourselves in it... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/churchills-restaurant-new-york-postcard/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Of all the jobs people avoided, feared, or whispered about, the gravedigger stood near the top of the list. Working in quiet corners of churchyards, behind iron fences, or in the shadows of city cemeteries, the gravedigger did work no one else wanted—making room for the dead and handling what came after. But for centuries, this job was a critical part of every community. It wasn't glamorous, and it certainly wasn't clean, but the people who did it kept burial grounds in order, protected public health, and honored the basic dignity of the dead. In this final part of our series on dirty jobs, we're going beneath the surface—literally—to explore the long, hard, and sometimes heartbreaking path of the gravedigger... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/gravedigger-burial-history-genealogy/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Long before cities had garbage trucks and recycling centers, there were the rag-and-bone collectors—wandering figures with pushcarts, sacks, and sharp eyes trained on the gutters and alleys of the industrial world. These scavengers were among the earliest forms of organized waste management, turning trash into treasure in a time when nearly everything had some kind of second life. Though rarely respected in their time, these individuals were vital to the ecosystem of 18th- and 19th-century cities. Their work supplied raw materials to soap makers, glue manufacturers, paper mills, and even farmers. They lived on the fringes of society, but their role supported entire industries. In many families, rag-picking or bone collecting wasn't just a temporary job—it was a generational trade... Podcast Notes:  https://ancestralfindings.com/rag-and-bone-collector-family-history/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips